The Rockport Pheasant Farm is a 492-acre facility (within the 1,274-acre Rockport Wildlife Management Area) operated by the N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife. Acquisition of the production area began in 1912 and was completed by 1925. The first release of Rockport pheasants was made in 1923. Since 1923 over 2 million pheasants have been raised at Rockport. All pheasants are produced for the sporting public (no pheasants are sold to the public); the operation is funded by the sale of the Pheasant & Quail Stamp.

A major milestone in the ongoing modernization of the farm was reached in 2010 with the completion of a state-of-the-art incubation and brooder building. The building's energy efficient, automated systems for egg incubation and chick care replace hand operated equipment and labor intensive chick handling and care regimes that date back to the farm's creation. The significant energy and labor cost savings realized with the new building and equipment ensures reliable annual production of superior pheasants for the same or lower cost to purchase birds from suppliers who may not be able to consistently meet annual demand.

Why Raise Pheasants?

The Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Pheasant Program provides over 150,000 man-days of outdoor recreation annually, with approximately 12,000 hunters participating.

The Pheasant Program generates $2.6 million in income to local businesses such as gas stations, motels, diners, taxidermists and sporting goods stores. The cost of raising pheasants is borne completely by the hunters who purchase Pheasant/Quail Stamps to participate in the program. No state tax dollars are used.

How Pheasants Are Raised at Rockport

Breeder Yards
Each year, 190 male (cock) pheasants are placed in "breeder yards" with 2700 females (hens). This results in approximately 160,000 - 170,000 eggs being laid between mid-March and the beginning of July. Eggs are collected three times a day and taken to the "egg room."

Egg Room
In the egg room the eggs are disinfected, sorted and put in trays. The room is maintained at 55 degrees F. to keep the eggs dormant until moved into incubators.

Incubation
Pheasant eggs require 24 days to hatch. The first 17 are spent in forced air circulating incubators which automatically roll the eggs five times daily. The final 7 days are spent in flat hatchers. Hatching ends by August.

Brooder Houses
After hatching, chicks are moved to brooder rooms. They stay in these temperature controlled rooms until 6 weeks of age, then moved outdoors to the...

Range Pens
More than 35 acres of range pens house the pheasants until fall. The pens are planted in cover crop (Sorghum) to provide the birds with protection from the weather. In the pens the male pheasants will grow to 2.5 - 3 pounds, females about 1.5 pounds.

DistributionBeginning in early November, the pheasants are run into a large (24' x 300') building. Here they are crated and loaded onto trucks for distribution. The birds will be stocked on approximately 100,000 acres of state Wildlife Management Areas.

Rockport's Future
The Rockport Pheasant Farm continues to upgrade and modernize as technology improves and funding becomes available. In addition to serving the sporting public, the farm preserves valuable open space and is a popular destination for families and school groups seeking to learn about wildlife and enjoy nature.

Visiting Rockport
The Rockport Pheasant Farm is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to dusk. It is located on Rockport Rd. (Rt. 629) roughly 3.5 miles south of Main St. (Rt. 46), Hackettstown, in scenic Warren County.

At Rockport there are pens holding exotic pheasants, turkeys and other birds. The historic Morris Canal, its towpath intact, passes through the farm. The canal basin (explaining the "port" in Rockport’s name), where boats would dock for the night, was recently drained as a precaution against the introduction of avian flu but remains visible. Picnicking is allowed but there are no food, water or toilet facilities available. For more information call 908-852-3461.